Spring construction



feb. 17. 1925./

F.4 R. STEVENSON SPRING CONSTRUCTION Patented Feb. 17, 1925` UNITEDSTATESY FREDERICK RICHMAN STEVENSON, OF MITCHAM, SUTH AUSTRALIA,AUSTRALIA.

SPRING CONSTRUCTION.

Application niet April 5, i922. serial No. 549,819..

To all 'wiz-cfm. t may concern: y

Be it known that FREDERICK RIGHMAN S'rnvrnrsoN, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at Princes Road, Mitcham, in the State of SouthAustralia, Commonwealth of Australia, hath invented certain new anduseful Improvements in and (lonnected with Spring Construction, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in and connected with springcushions for vehicles and upholstery, the object of the same being toconstruct a spring cushion in such a manner as to afford very greatresiliency without rendering it liable to work out of shape, this objectbeing achieved by the application and use of various elementsconstituting a new constructional combination the parts of which are soarranged as to produce the desired etli'ect.

The invention herein described is intended to include the upholstery forthe backs of railway carriages and the beds of sleeping cars, sofas, andanalogous structures.

The cushion constructed in accordance with my invention may be builtupon either a wire, iron, or wooden foundation., a corresponding shapeof wire being used to control the shape oit its upper edge, a specialfeature of construction consisting of y an intermediate frame ot wire ofsmaller dimensions which is attached by suitable means to vertically aranged outer rows ot coil springs which are connected both to the top andbottom frame.

These springs are held in position by suitable means and are tied toeach other in adjacent groups by wire ties which are joined up so as toai'ford great stability to the structure which is further strengthenedby hinged diagonal stays crossing from the top frame to the intermediateframe. The loose ends ot intermediate groups of stays may also be joinedtogether with wire attachments it necessary but in the majority of casesthis will not be required, but in order that my invention maybe clearlyunderstood I will further describe the same by aid of the accompanyingillustrative drawings wherein Fig. l is a plan ol a cushion showing.

methods ot" attachment, the bottom attachments and cross frame wiresbeing omitted in portion `of the illustration.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal or side elevation ot the cushion.

Fig. 3 is an outlined end view of the structure showing cross stays andmiddle conA necting plates. 1 i

Fic'. 4; is an inverted view of portion of the structure showing bottomattachment plates.

Fig. 5 is an inverted view of a single spring showing bottom attachmentplate on a larger scale.

Fig. 6 is an end view of cushion showing a foundation trame of wood.

Fig. 7 is an attachment device constructed of wire :for intermediatesprings.

. Figures 8 and 9 are a plan view and side elevation, respectively, ofan attachment device ttor half coil springs.

In each of the illustrations similar' letters of reference are used todenote similar or corresponding parts wherever they occur.

In the drawings o is the toundation'rame of steel, wire, wood, or othermaterial upon which the longitudinal and lateral crosswires l) arestretched. To these cross-wires I attach the coil springs c by means ofany convenient fastening device such tor instance as the fastening shownat l which consists of two strips of metal slotted at their ends for theclearance of the orosswires, the wings oit the slotted portions beingbent round the outer coil of the spring as indicated in Fig. 5, thestrips of metal which constitute the fastening device being centrallypunched out as indicated, one strip having a clean hole punched throughthe metal whilst the other strip has triangular Vshaped or other'lapping pieces left in the openings which are subsequently bent over tobind the two strips together as will be readily understood on referencebeing made to Fig. 5 of the drawings. A

The fastening device above referred to is adaptable to double endedsprings of the nature more particularly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawings, and also used in part of Fig. G, but it is desirable that inthe outer row of springs in Fig. 6 a. spiral spring oit the typecommercially known as halt-coil springs should be applied having itslower end of relatively small diameter as shown at c in that figure. inwhich case the fastening device may be of the nature shown in Figs. 8and 9 and consists of a somewhat cone shaped split thimble adapted atits lower ends for the reception ot' crosswires, its upper ends beingflanged outwardly to engage the small coil of the spring as indicated.These fasteners may have the extremity oi'' one if its sides or wingscut away as indicated in Fig. 8 et the drawings.

In the upper portion ot the cushion I provide a steel wire frame f whichmay be similar in size and shape to the wire frame (t, and to this upperframe the outer rows of springs are attached by a simple 'Form otattachment such as g but the cross-wires are dispensed with in theuppei` inline eX- cept that parallel with theA outer edge of the upperframe I supply single traine Wire which is also engaged by the outer rowof springs by means ot attachment plates. I find in actual practice thatit advantageous to leave the intermed' to rows of springs loose orunattached si their top ends.

A very important feature ot my invention consists of the constructionand the arrange ment of an intermediate trame 7J which is usuallysituated midway between the upoer and lower trame and is ot smaller sizethan the former as more clearly indicated in Figs. l and 6 of thedrawings as well as in other iigures.

The coil sprinesfare fastened to each othe opposite to this Irame bymeans of a suitabl fastening device consisting preferably o a disc Zhaving holes m toi-med therei trom whence the attachment wires-,.1` rarate and terminate with bent or hooi ends as clearly indicated in Fig. 3ot drawings.

In some cases a simpler tasteningstructure can be used consisting of awire ioop o Which may be pressed into the torni ot a cross as indicatedin Fig. the ends being turned downwardly7 and inwardly so as to make ahook suitable tor gripping over the wires. Either this device or simplewire hooks can be used itt it. is desired to join the intermediatesprings together, the wire attachments being either diagonally arrangedas illustrated or they may be at right angles to the frame.

For the further purpose ofA strengthening my cushion I use diagonalstays p preferably consisting of wire similar to that which is used forconstructing the traine. These wires extend across the cushion from thetop trame bars to the bars ot the intermediate and may be repeated inthe bottom ot or across the structure and ere. preferably capable oirotation 'where joined to the traine to allow for the relative movementet the traine bars when the springs compressed.

Having now particularly described my said invention and in what mannerthe same is to be perfor-ined I declare that what I claim is Inimprovements in and connected with spring cushions for vehicles anduphoistei'),r wherein cross-wires are used tor siipl'iortingy springs7in-fans for attaching fd sprin i' to the cross-wires consisting ol twostrips of metal placed at right :ingles to ea lh other, one ot whichsaid strips is punched with a square hole. the other being punched insuch a manner as to torni lapping pieces which are passed through theholes ot the toi-mer and bent over to bind the two strips .Oethe theends ot the strips being rer the clearance for the cross-wires and thewings of the siotted portions boing bent round the outer coil of thespring.

In testimony whereof he hath aiiired his signature in presence of twowitnesses.

FiEsRlCK RICHWN STEVENSON. lfitnesses:

(ioni: I-Innnnnr COOKE, JOHN Micrrixnn Vennen.

